The Bolsheviks' War on the Orthodox Church

In episode 127 of The Russian Revolution, Lucas and Luna explore the Bolsheviks' systematic campaign against the Russian Orthodox Church. From the nationalization of church lands and the closure of monasteries to the execution of clergy and the desecration of relics, they trace how Lenin and his commissars sought to destroy an institution that had been intertwined with the state for centuries. Key figures include Patriarch Tikhon, who was placed under house arrest; the Cheka's targeting of priests; and the 1918 execution of Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev. The episode also covers the 'Renovationist' schism, a government-sponsored movement aiming to create a loyalist church. Listeners will learn about the Decree on the Separation of Church and State, the 1922 campaign to confiscate church valuables, and the violent 'Shuya incident' that sparked mass protests. The conversation ends with a reflection on how this persecution shaped Soviet religious policy for decades.

#RussianRevolution #Bolsheviks #RussianOrthodoxChurch #PatriarchTikhon #Cheka #RenovationistSchism #DecreeOnSeparation #ShuyaIncident #MetropolitanVladimir #AtheistCampaign #SovietHistory #1918 #EasternEurope #Lenin #Trotsky #History #FexingoHistory #ReligionUnderCommunism

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